Structural analysis

1. State and explain the principle of virtual work.

The principle of virtual work is based on the
conservation of energy for a structure which implies
that work done on a structure by external loads is equal
to workdone on a structure by internal loads.
2. Write down the Castiglianos first theorem.
The partial derivative of the total strain energy with
respect to an applied force or moment gives the
displacement or rotation at the point of application of
the force and in the direction of application of the force.
3. What is the significance of unit load method?
The external load is removed and the unit load is
applied at the point, where the deflection or rotation is
to found.
4. State the basic unit load formula.
i) Find the forces P1, P2, . in all the members due to
external loads.
ii) Remove the external loads and apply the unit vertical
point load at the joint if the
vertical deflection is required and find the stress.
iii) Apply the equation for vertical and horizontal
deflection.
5. Explain Mohrs correction.
The Williot diagram does not give the true deflection of
the joints but the same can be modified and correlated
to the true deflection by applying certain correction is
known as Mohrs correction.
6. Differentiate perfect and imperfect frame.
A structural frame that is stable under loads imposed
upon it from any direction is known as perfect frame.
A structural frame is unstable if one of its members
were removed or one of its fixed ends became hinged is
known as imperfect frame.
7. State Maxwells Reciprocal theorem?
This theorem states that work done by the forces of the
first state on the corresponding displacements of the
second state is equal to the work done by the forces of
the second state on the corresponding displacements of
the first state.
8. Determine the free end slope of a cantilever
beam having length L due to an applied moment
M at free end using the principle of virtual
work?

9. Distinguish between pin jointed and rigidly

jointed structures.
Pin jointed structures:
i) The joints permit change of angle between connected
members.
ii) The joints are incapable of transferring any moment
to the connected members and Vice versa.
iii) The pins transmit forces between connected
members by developing shear.
Rigidly jointed structures:
i) The members connected at a rigid joint will maintain
the angle between them even under deformation due to
loads.
ii) Members can transmit both forces and moments
between themselves through the joint.
iii) Provision of rigid joints normally increases the
redundancy of the structures.
10. What are the assumptions made in the
analysis of pin jointed trusses?
i) All the members are pin jointed.
ii) External loads are transmitted to the structure only
at the joint.
iii) Pins do not transfer any moment to any of the
connected members.
iv) Pins allow the connected members to change the
angles between them.
11. Explain Williots diagram.
A graphical method used to determining the deflection
of a framed structure under the load is known as
Williots diagram.
12. Give the equation that is used for the
determination of deflection at a given point in
truss and frames?

13. Find the static indeterminacy of below figure.

Static indeterminacy = No. of unknowns No. of
conditions = 6 3 = 3
14. Define internally and externally
indeterminate structures.
Internally indeterminate structures:
In a pin jointed frames redundancy caused by too many
members is called internally indeterminate structures or
internal redundancy.
Externally indeterminate structures:
In a pin jointed frames redundancy caused by too many
supports is called externally indeterminate structures or
external redundancy.
15. Define degree of freedom.
In a structure the number of independent joint
displacement that the structures can undergo are
known as degree of freedom. It is also known as
kinematic indeterminacy.
16. Write any two important assumptions made
in the analysis of trusses?
i) All the members are pin jointed.
ii) External loads are transmitted to the structure only
at the joint.
17. State the difference between strain energy
method and unit load method in the
determination of deflection of structures?
In the unit load method, one has to analyze the frame
twice to find the load and deflection.
While in the strain energy method, only one analysis is
needed to find the load and deflection.
18. Name any four methods used for computation
of deflection in structures?
Double integration method, Macaulays method,
Conjugate beam method, Moment area method, Method
of elastic weights, Virtual work method- Dummy unit
load method, Strain energy method and Williot Mohr
diagram method.
19. Define static indeterminacy of structures.
If the conditions of statics i.e. H = 0, V = 0 and M =
0 alone are not sufficient to find either external
reactions or internal forces in a structure. The structure
is called static indeterminacy of structures.
20. Define static determinate structures.
If the conditions of statics i.e. H = 0, V = 0 and M =
0 alone are sufficient to find either external reactions or
internal forces in a structure. The structure is called
static determinacy of structures.
Influence line diagram
1. What is the use of influence line diagram
Influence lines are very useful in the quick
determination of reactions, shear force, bending
moment or similar functions at a given section under
any given system of moving loads.
Influence lines are useful in determining the load
position to cause maximum value of a given function in
a structure on which load positions can vary.
2. State Muller Breslaus principle.
Muller-Breslau principle states that, if we want to sketch
the influence line for any force quantity (like thrust,
shear, reaction, support moment or bending moment)
in a structure,
We remove from the structure the resistant to that force
quantity and
We apply on the remaining structure a unit
displacement corresponding to that force quantity.
3. What are influence lines?

An influence line is a graph showing, for any given

frame or truss, the variation of any force or
displacement quantity (such as shear force, bending
moment, tension, deflection) for all positions of a
moving unit load as it crosses the structure from one
end to the other.
4. Explain the use of Beggs deformeter.

It permits extremely accurate work in indirect model

analysis.
For best results the deformeter should be used in a
room with controlled temperature and humidity so as to
avoid disturbance of model deflections due to
differential heating.
Extended periods of use of this deformeter may cause
considerable eye strain.
5. State the three equilibrium equations.
H = 0; V = 0; M = 0;
6. What is degree of kinematic indeterminacy?
Members of structure deform due to external loads. The
minimum number of parameters required to uniquely
describe the deformed shape of structure is called
Degree of kinematic indeterminacy.
12. What are the types of connections possible in
the model of beggs deformeter?
(i) Hinged connection (ii) Fixed connection (iii) Floating
connection
7. What is meant by absolute maximum bending
moment in a beam?

When a given load system moves from one end to the

other end of a girder, depending upon the position of
the load, there will be a maximum bending moment for
every section. The maximum of these bending
moments will usually occur near or at the midspan. The
maximum of maximum bending moments is called the
absolute maximum bending moment.
8. Where do you get rolling loads in practice?

Shifting of load positions is common enough in

buildings. But they are more pronounced in bridges and
in gantry girders over which vehicles keep rolling.
9. Name the type of rolling loads for which the
absolute maximum bending moment occurs at
the mid span of a beam?
(i) Single concentrated load
(ii) udl longer than the span
(iii) udl shorter than the span
(iv) Also when the resultant of several concentrated
loads crossing a span, coincides with a concentrated
load then also the maximum bending moment occurs at
the centre of the span.

ARCHES

11. What is degree of kinematic indeterminacy?

Members of structure deform due to external loads. The
minimum number of parameters required to uniquely
describe the deformed shape of structure is called
Degree of kinematic indeterminacy.
12. What are the types of connections possible in
the model of beggs deformeter?
(i) Hinged connection (ii) Fixed connection (iii) Floating
connection
13. What is meant by absolute maximum bending
moment in a beam?
When a given load system moves from one end to the
other end of a girder, depending upon the position of
the load, there will be a maximum bending moment for
every section. The maximum of these bending
moments will usually occur near or at the midspan. The
maximum of maximum bending moments is called the
absolute maximum bending moment.
14. Where do you get rolling loads in practice?

Shifting of load positions is common enough in

buildings. But they are more pronounced in bridges and
in gantry girders over which vehicles keep rolling.
15. Name the type of rolling loads for which the
absolute maximum bending moment occurs at
the mid span of a beam?
(i) Single concentrated load
(ii) udl longer than the span
(iii) udl shorter than the span
(iv) Also when the resultant of several concentrated
loads crossing a span, coincides with a concentrated
load then also the maximum bending moment occurs at
the centre of the span.

3. Write the difference between circular arch and parabolic

arch.